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COMMITTEE. 
Description  of  Faribault  9r)r 


*?. 


iBiiii  i: 


FRONT  OF  MEMORIAL  CHAPEL, 


A  ^ ' ' 


DESCRIPTION 


FIIRIBKULT  I  VICINITY, 


WITH     ITS     CIIAKMING     COMBINATION     OF    HILL     AND    DALE,     LAKE     AND    RIVER, 
FOREST     AND   PRAIRIE,     SHOWING    VIEWS    OF    ITS     EDUCATIONAL 
INSTITUTIONS,    CHURCHES,    BUSINESS   ESTABLISH- 
MENTS  AND   SCENERY. 


^IL^LXJSTI^^^T:E1D. 


ISSUED  BY  THE  CITIZENS'  COMMITTEE, 
FABIBAULT,   RICE   CO.,   MINN. 


iz.r 


Faribault  and  Vicinity^ 


THE  traveler  on  the  Iowa  Division  of  the  Chicago,  Milwaukee  &  St. 
Paul  Railwa}-,  at  a  point  directl}^  south  of  St.  Paul,  and  distant  fifty- 
six  miles  from  that  cit}-,  comes  upon  one  of  the  most  charming  little 
cities  to  be  found  an^'where  in  the  Northwest.  Both  nature  and  art  have 
done  more  for  its  adornment  than  for  an}'  other  inland  cit}'  or  town  in 
Minnesota.  Although  so  well  and  widely  known  by  reason  of  its  numer- 
ous educational  institutions,  so  little  has  been  written  or  published 
about  its  natural  advantages  and  the  beauty  of  its  surroundings,  that 
every  stranger  who  visits  it  is  astonished  at  the  size  and  the  substantial 
character  of  the  place,  the  great  progress  that  has  been  made  in  the  de- 
velopment of  the  public  and  private  institutions,  and  the  many  evidences 
of  the  thrift  and  prosperity-  of  its  inhabitants. 

Prior  to  its  settlement  by  white  people,  the  site  of  the  future  town 
and  the  charming  lakes  in  the  immediate  vicinit}-  were  long  the  haunts 
and  hunting  and  fishing  grounds  of  the  Indians.  Their  innate  love  of  the 
beautiful,  and  the  great  abundance  of  fish  and  wild  fowl  that  swarmed  in 
and  about  these  waters,  then,  as  now,  made  this  a  favorite  rendezvous. 
They  were  of  the  tribe  of  Sioux  or  Dakota,  or,  as  they  were  known  among 
the  Indians  from  their  forest  habitations,  the  Wapekuti  or  Leaf  Shooters. 
Their  agent,  Alexander  Faribault,  who  had  intermarried  with  them,  built 
and  occupied  the  first  frame  house  before  the  town  was  established. 
This  house  is  still  in  good  repair.  When  the  town  was  laid  out  it  was 
named  for  this  first  inhabitant,  and  it  has  now  grown  to  a  city  of  about 
7,000  people. 


6  FARIBAULT  AND  VICINITY. 

The  town  owes  much  of  its  attractiveness  still  to  the  charming  natural 
scener}'  which  so  impressed  even  the  untutored  savage.  It  is  situated  a 
little  above  the  junction  of  the  Cannon  and  the  Owatonna,  or,  as  it  is  now 
known,  the  Straight  Rivers :  the  former  running  in  an  easterly  and  the 
latter  in  a  northerly  direction.  It  lies  mostly  on  the  slope  of  the  high 
rolling  prairie  that  rises  back  to  the  south  and  the  southwest  from  these 
rivers.  The  east  bank  of  the  Straight  River  is  a  bluff  that  rises  more  or 
less  abruptly  to  the  hight  of  a  hundred  feet.  This  bluff  is  surmounted 
b}'  a  plateau  which  is  occupied  by  the  six  public  and  private  institutions 
■which  are  illustrated  and  described  farther  on.  Back  of  this  the  receding 
hills  rise  to  a  farther  height  of  150  feet.  It  is  from  this  summit  that  the 
extended  view  which  forms  the  frontispiece  was  taken.  From  man}' 
points  on  this  bluff,  and  from  all  the  institutions,  one  can  obtain  a  view 
of  almost  the  entire  city,  and  of  the  borders  of  the  "  Big  Woods,"  which 
stretch  away  beyond  the  Cannon  River  for  a  distance  of  thirty  or  fort}' 
miles,  forming  a  scene  of  loveliness  that  no  artist  can  copy. 

The  reader  will  see  from  this  description,  that  Faribault  is  not  a  west- 
ern  prairie  town.  The  scenery  possesses  more  of  the  characteristics  of  a 
New  York  or  a  New  England  town  than  is  often  found  in  the  West.  The 
country  in  all  this  section  is  broken  and  diversified,  the  soil  rich,  water 
abundant  and  good,  and  much  of  the  higher  ground  is  still  covered  with 
the  timber.  There  is  no  section  of  the  State  that,  either  in  town  or  country, 
offers  greater  inducements  to  those  who  wish  to  become  bona  fide  set- 
tlers and  citizens,  than  the  city  of  Faribault  and  the  county  of  Rice. 

ITS    INSTITUTIONS. 

In  18G0,  when  the  place  was  only  a  new  western  town,  with  all  that 
the  name  implies,  the  inhabitants  were  enterprising  and  far-seeing  enough 
to  hold  <Hit  such  inducements,  combined  with  the  natural  advantages  of 
the  situation,  as  to  lend  Hisliop  Whipple  to  choose  this  for  his  residence. 
This  led,  of  course,  to  the  establishment  here  of  all  the  schools  of  the 
Episcopal  Church.  The  State  also  established  here  three  of  its  most  desir- 
able and  successful  institutions.  A 11  of  these,  as  will  be  seen,  have  fine  large 
buildings,  of  such  a  ch;ii';i(li  r  th:il  tiicy  ;iic  not  only  an  ornament  to  the 


FARIBAULT  AND  VICINITY. 


9 


town,  but  they  give  assurance  of  the  future  growth  antl  improvement 
which  are  sure  to  come,  and  which  will  make  them  hereafter,  even  more 
than  now.  an  advantage  to  the  town,  both  in  a  financial  and  an  esthetic 
point  of  view.  Probably  nothing  has  done  so  much  to  build  up  the 
town,  to  preserve  the  even  and  safe  financial  condition  of  its  business,  or 
to  give  character  and  tone  to  the  moral  and  social  atmosphere  of  the 
people,  as  these  institutions.  The^^  are  the  pride  of  its  citizens  and  the 
admiration  of  all  visitors,  and,  as  we  believe  has  been  justly  said  of  them 
all,  '•  there  are  no  schools  in  the  country  that  are  doing  more  to  secure 
public  confidence,  or  to  give  good  and  thorough  training  to  those  who 
are  so  fortunate  as  to  have  the 
advantage  of  it,  as  these  schools 
in  Faribault." 

Let  us  set  out  on  a  visit  to 
these  schools  and  ramble  for  a 
little  time  through  their  beautiful 
grounds.  Driving  north  along 
Main  street  till  we  come  to 
Eighth  street,  we  cross  Straight 
River  through  the  landscape  that 
is  shown  in  the  accompanying 
view.  Turning  to  the  left,  we 
wind  around  the  sandstone  bluff, 
and  up  the  incline  to  the  center 
of  the  beautiful  and  well  kept 
grounds  of 

SHATTUCK  SCHOOL. 

As  you  wind  in  and  out  among 
the  buildings  and  groves,  and  the 
closely  shaven  lawns,  it  is  easy 
to  see  why  these  are  looked  upon 
as  one  of  the  most  lovelj-  spots 
in  America  for   an    educational  on  siiattuck  grounds. 


10 


FARIBAULT  AND  VICINITV. 


institution.  The  scliool  was  es- 
tablished mainly  through  the 
instrumentality  of  Bishop  Whip- 
ple, and  Drs.  Breck  and  Manne}-, 
in  1865.  It  is  a  thorough  train- 
ing school  for  bo3'S,  and,  judging 
from  the  fact  that  its  patronage 
is  such  that  it  is  never  able  to 
receive  all  who  appl}'  for  admis- 
sion, and  that  its  graduates  take 
so  high  a  stand  as  the}-  do  in  the 
eastern  colleges  and  universities, 
it  may  justly  take  pride  in  its 
well  earned  and  widespread  rep- 
utation. It  is  chiefly  a  boarding 
school,  and  is  so  widel}'  and  well- 
known  that  it  draws  students 
from  half  the  States  of  the  Union. 
At  the  same  time  it  gives  all 
the  advantages,  educational  and 
military,  to  the  sons  of  those  who 
reside  in  the  town.  It  offers, 
therefore,  in  common  with  the 
girls'  school,  this  advantage  to 
parents  who  are  looking  for  a  place  of  i-esideuce  where  they  can  be 
within  reach  of  schools  of  the  very  highest  character. 

But,  looking  around  on  the  grounds  we  have  entered,  vve  find  at  the 
left  of  the  drive  a  large  building  of  the  beautiful  blue  limestone  which 
is  so  plentiful  in  and  about  Faribault,  and  which  furnishes  the  material 
for  all  <)i'  its  largest  and  best  edifices.  The  building  we  have  approached 
is  known  as  Shattuck  Hall,  in  honor  of  Dr.  Shattuck,  of  Boston,  one  of 
the  most  liberal  benefactors  of  the  church  work  in  Faribault.  It  is  oc- 
cupied by  cadets  and  teachers  for  residence  and  dormitories,  and  the 
basement  temporaiily  rmiiishcs  a  dining  room.     To  Ihe  right,  embowered 


ON  SHATTUCK  GROUNDS. 


FARIBAULT  AND  VICINITY. 


13 


in  a  large  grove  of  native  trees,  and  surrounded  by  Ijeautiful  lawns  and 
flowers,  and  vases  and  statuary,  is  the  most  lovelj'  piece  of  school  and 
church  architecture  one  can  find  anywhere  in  the  West.  It  is  the  Memo- 
rial Chapel  of  the  Good  Shepherd.  It  was  built  in  1872-73  by  Mrs.  Shum- 
way,  of  Chicago,  as  a  memorial  of  her  daughter,  and  one  would  travel  far 
to  find  a  more  fitting  or  beautiful  memorial,  or  one  that  exerts  so  wide  an 
influence  for  good.  Not  onl}-  the  boys  and  young  men  who  daih-  gather 
there  for  religious  instruction  and  divine  worship  are  receiving  impres- 
sions which  are  doing  more  than    aught  else,  it  may  be,  to  mold   the 


AVHIPPLE   HALL— SHATTUCK. 


character,  and  which  will  be  among  the  brightest  memories  in  the  future 
of  their  happy  life  at  Shattuek,  but  everv  citizen  and  every  visitor  who 
even  once  joins  in  the  hearty,  joyous  service,  as  it  is  there  rendered,  car- 


14  FARIBAULT  AND  VICINITV. 

ries  awa}-  with  him  a  little  of  the  holy  and  the  softening  influence  which 
the  sacred  place  alwa3'S  throws  around  its  worshipers.  Long  may  it 
stand,  to  do  its  part  in  training  men  who  shall  be  leaders  in  all  that  is 
truly  manly  and  helpful  in  human  life. 

Ketracing  our  steps  a  little,  we  pass  the  temporary  frame  buildings 
that  have  nearly  served  their  purpose  as  school  and  stud}'^  rooms,  leaving 
on  our  riglit  a  large,  handsome  building  of  the  same  limestone,  named  in 
honor  of  the  first  Bishop  of  Minnesota,  "  Whipple  Hall ;"  we  pass  in  the 
circuit  the  large  stone  building  known  as  the  Manney  Armory-  Hall,  and 
used  as  a  gymnasium  and  bowling  alley  below,  and  a  drill  hall  above  ; 
and  so  on  past  the  commandant's  residence  on  the  left,  the  fine  parade 
ground  on  the  right,  through  the  grove  out  of  the  grounds  to  the  south. 

The  grounds  just  left  comprise  100  acres.  They  open  on  the  south 
immediatelj'  into  the  large,  fine  grounds  of  the 

STATE    INSTITUTION    FOR   THE    DEAF    AND    DUMB. 

These  have  the  same  park-like  appearance  as  those  of  Shattuck 
School.  The  State  has  furnished,  as  will  be  seen  by  reference  to  the  view 
given,  an  elegant  building.  It  is  thoroughly  equipped  for  the  care  and 
education  of  the  deaf  children  of  the  State.  The  combined  system  of 
sign  manual,  oral  and  industrial  methods  is  employed,  embracing  all  the 
latest  and  most  approved  helps  recognized  in  this  department  of  popular 
education.  No  better  example  of  the  practical  advantages  of  an  indus- 
trial education  can  be  found  in  the  State  than  in  this  school  for  the  deaf 
The  building  is  ample  for  all  the  accommodation  and  instruction  of  200 
pupils,  and  to  the  honor  of  the  gentlemen  who  had  the  charge  of  its 
erection,  it  may  be  said,  that  it  is  one  of  the  few  i)ublie  buildings  the 
writer  ever  heard  of  that  was  built  and  furnished  for  less  money  than 
was  appropriated  for  it.  It  is  surrounded  by  sixty-five  acres  of  land, 
is  situated  on  one  of  the  most  prominent  points  on  the  bluff,  and  with  its 
wiiKJiiig  walks  and  drives  is  a  noble  testimony  of  the  liberality  of  the 
State  in  the  care  of  its  unfortunates. 

Proceeding  on  our  way  to  the  southward,  we  next  enter  tlie  grounds  of 


Il!!!!;!(!l'!:i:';if| 


I'lWill'l, 


fillllliMl!(i'''lliHi||!lilili 


FARIBAULT  AND  VICINITY.  17 

ST.  mart's  hall. 

This,  like  Shattuck  School,  is  a  part  of  the  educational  work  carried 
on  by  the  Episcopal  Church  under  the  general  supervision  of  the  Bishop. 
It  is,  without  doubt,  one  of  the  best  and  most  carefully  and  judiciousl}- 
managed  institutions  for  the  training  and  culture  of  young  ladies  in  the 
country.  This  fact  is  testified  to  by  the  large  and  liberal  patronage  both 
from  abroad  and  from  our  own  citizens,  and  the  high  estimate  in  which 
the  school  is  held  by  its  patrons.  It  has  but  recently  occupied  its  new 
and  commodious  building  on  the  grounds  we  have  just  entered.  Like 
those  we  have  left,  those  who  chose  the  location  had  an  eye  for  the 
beautiful.  It  stands  on  a  perpendicular  bluff  nearly  opposite  the  main 
part  of  the  town,  and  commands  a  more  immediate  view  of  the  city  itself 
than  any  of  the  others.  Its  grounds,  when  the  plans  of  the  landscape 
architect  are  carried  out,  will  not  only  offer  attractions  to  visitors,  but 
will  afford  a  delightful  place  for  the  free  and  healthful  exercise  of  the 
inmates. 

Continuing  our  way  still  toward  the  south,  we  pass  over  the  highway 
in  a  deep  ravine,  on  an  iron  bridge  of  artistic  design,  which  was  erected 
b}-  the  cit}'  to  afford  an  easy  access  to  the  school  from  the  streets  below. 
Our  way  leads  us  on  the  higher  ground  to  the  east  and  south,  for  a 
quarter  of  a  mile  or  more,  when  we  enter  the  grounds  of  the 

SEABURY  DIVINITY   SCHOOL. 

This  is  the  Theological  School  of  the  Episcopal  Church.  '  The  build- 
ing IS  in  the  mediaeval  style  of  architecture,  and  is  most  charmingl}' 
situated  in  a  large  native  grove  of  old  trees.  It  was  a  favorite  site  for 
the  tepees  of  a  band  of  Sioux  who  made  their  abotle  here  and  a  little  to 
the  south,  prior  to,  and  indeed  long  after  the  advent  of  the  white  man. 
A  few  of  their  descendants  are  still  here,  though  not  as  formerly  lazily 
drawing  out  their  lives  in  blankets  and  paint,  but  "  clothed  and  in  their 
right  mind,"  and  making  more  of  an  approach  to  the  habits  and  industry 
of  civilized  life  than  the  old  residents  of  Minnesota  once  thought  possible. 
This  has  been  brought  about,  and  so  much  at  least  done  toward  the 


18 


FARIBAULT  AND  VICINITY. 


peaceable  solution  of  the  much  vexed  Indian  problem,  by  the  earnest 
efforts  of  the  Bishop,  and  by  the  same  influences  that  have  founded  the 
schools  which  are  now  the  pride  and  the  beaut}-  of  Faribault. 

Next  south  of  the  Seabury  grounds,  and  separated  from  them  by  a 
deep  and  picturesque  ravine,  we  again  enter  grounds  belonging  to  the 
State.     The  first  thing  that  attracts  our  attention  is  the 

SCHOOL    FOR   THE    BLIND. 

This  occupies  the  house  that  was  till  recently  the  residence  of  Mr.  Alex. 
Faribault.  A  large  addition  has  now  been  made  to  it,  and  it  presents  to 
the  visitor  a  very  commodious  and  handsome  appearance.  Continuing 
on  our  wa}',  we  come  at  a  short  distance  to  the  last,  but  in  its  results,  by 
no  means  the  least  interesting  of  the  institutions  which  have  made  our- 
city  so  far  famed.     This  is  the 


.SOl'TII    WING    OK   IMHKCIl.K  SCHOOL. 


FARIBAULT  AND  VICINITY, 


21 


SCHOOL    FOR   FEEBLE-MINDED    CHILDREN. 

Its  establishment  by  the  State  authorities  gives  one  renewed  faith  in  the 
S3mpath3-  of  human  nature  for  its  kind.  Its  aim  is  to  give  these  unfortu- 
nate children  of  nature  such  elementary  education  as  the}'  are  capable  of 
receiving,  and  especiall}-  to  teach  them  to  care  for  themselves,  to  work, 
and  so  to  make  them,  so  far  as  may  be,  self-supporting.  No  greater  char- 
it}'  and  no  more  self-denying  labor  engages  the  attention  of  an}-  one  in 
all  the  round  of  public  charity. 

If  you  should  continue  your  drive  into  the  country,  in  almost  any 
direction,  with  eyes  open  for  the  interesting  and  the  beautiful,  you  will 
be  hard  to  please  if  you  do  not  return  feeling  that  you  want  to  go  again 


CEDAR  LAKE.— THE  ISLES. 


and  again.     The  country  is  of  such  a  nature,  you  can  go  for  an  afternoon's 
drive  on  the  open,  rolling  prairie,  passing  everywhere  fields  of  the  most 


22  FARIBAULT  AND  VICINITY. 

luxuriant  growth  of  wheat,  oats,  corn  and  other  grains — for  Rice  County 
farmers  have  learned  there  is  mone}'  in  other  things  than  wheat — and 
here  and  there  as  fine  herds  of  cattle  as  one  would  wish  to  see.  Or  a'ou 
can  go  eastward  and  find  hilly  roads  that  will  almost  make  you  imagine 
3'ou  are  back  in  New  England  again,  till,  after  a  time,  you  emerge  into 
one  of  the  largest,  most  fertile,  and  most  enchanting  rolling  prairies  to  be 
found  anywhere  in  the  State.  .  Or,  again,  if  3'OU  wish,  you  can  take  to  the 
woods,  and  winding  in  and  out  between  woodland  and  field,  come,  with  an 
easy  drive  of  from  three  to  ten  miles,  to  some  of  the  beautiful  lakes  for 
which  Minnesota  stands  without  a  peer,  and  of  which  the  neighborhood 
you  are  visiting  has  its  full  share.  Then  try  your  hand  at  fishing  or 
duck  shooting,  as  the  season  ma}'  suggest,  and  see  if  there  is  anj'  one  of 
the  •'  watering  places  "  that  can  fill  an  afternoon,  or  a  morning,  either,  for 
that  matter,  so  brim  full  of  real  healthy  enjoyment  as  an  excursion  like 
this  we  have  marked  out.  And  the  beaut}-  of  it  Is,  that,  if  j^ou  want  a 
comfortable,  quiet,  "  go-as-you-please  "  place  to  spend  the  summer,  where 
you  can  enjo}'  yourself  driving,  or  fishing,  or  hunting,  or  lounging,  ac- 
cording to  3'our  taste  or  habit,  there  is  room  enough  and  variety  enough 
to  give  3'ou  emplo3'ment  for  the  season.  The  reader  can  see  something 
of  the  sport  that  awaits  him  if  he  shall  be  so  fortunate  as  to  form  one  of 
a  part}-  such  as  is  pictured  elsewhere,  of  a  very  common  summer  scene 
at  almost  any  of  our  numerous  lakes.-  A  string  of  two  or  three  hundred 
fish,  black  bass,  wall-eyed  pike,  perch,  etc.  ;  a  quiet  sail  on  the  beautiful 
sheet  of  water  on  one  of  the  superb  summer  days  that  so  often  invite 
away  from  town  and  business ;  or  the  picnic  on  the  shore  after  the  sail, 
and  the  "string"  has  been  brought  in,  as  shown  in  the  illustration,  has  in 
it  a  zest  and  enjoyment  that  would  repay  a  much  longer  ride  than  is  nec- 
essary in  order  to  reach  it. 

This  brief  sketch  of  some  of  tlic  attractions  of  this  charming  inland 
city,  and  oft  lie  iniiiiy  points  of  beauty  and  interest  in  and  around  it,  has 
not  l)oen  made  for  the  sake  of  a  picture  book.  It  has  been  done  to  show, 
so  far  as  may  be  done;  on  paper,  the  superior  advantages  it  offers  to  the 
tourist  who  is  looking  for  a  phice  of  resort  for  the  summer ;  to  those  who 
are  in  quest.  (»f  a  pleasant,  and  liealtliy  i)lace  in  wliicli  to  malce  a  home  for 


FARIBAULT  AND  VICINITY. 


25 


COURT  HOUSE. 


their  families  ;  to  those  who  have  children  they  wish  to  give  the  best  pos- 
sible educational  advantages  without  sending  them  from  home  ;  and  to 
business  men  who  are  seeking  in  the  Northwest  an  attractive  town  that 
offers  good  opportunities  for  business  enterprises  and  for  investments. 

The  citizens  of  Faribault  feel  a  just  pride  in  urging  the  claims  of  their 
town  and  of  the  farming  countrv  around  it  upon  all  of  these  classes  of 
people.  The  preceding  pages,  with  the  views,  which  may  be  multiplied 
many  times,  give  some  idea  of  the  natural  beauties  of  the  place  and  its 
surroundings,  and  of  the  unusual  advantages  grouped  here  in  the  educa- 
tional and  public  institutions. 

The  town  itself  is  not  behind  in  the  particulars  which  have  been  men- 
tioned. The  presence  of  the  schools— State  and  private — has  had  much 
intluence  in  determining  the  character  of  the  people  who  have  naturally 
sought  homes  here.     A  much  larger  proportion  than  is  usually  found  in 


26 


FARIBAULT  AND  VICINITV. 


-itoc;;«s«A:g^.ua^ . 


Ml-ig;«gSgig?ja,.S-sag 


1" 


BETHLEHEM   ACADEMY. 


western  towns  of  its  age  are  of  American  birtli.  Tlie  fact  will  become 
more  and  more  apparent  that  people  of  means  and  of  cultnre  will  be  at- 
tracted to  it  as  a  place  of  residence.  Besides  the  schools  mentioned 
above,  it  ma}-  be  said  as  still  more  important  to  the  great  body  of  the 
people,  that  the  j)uhlic  schools  are  worthy  of  the  highest  commendation, 
while  the  Bethlehem  Academy  and  the  parochial  schools  of  the  Chnrch 
of  the  Immacnlate  Conception  are  doing  an  admirable  work  in  the 
thoroughness  and  excellence  of  their  instruction.  All  the  churches  have 
excellent  cliiirch  buildings,  and  most  of  them  good  congregations.  The 
tasty  appearance  of  llie  private  dwellings  and  grounds,  the  substantial 
charaf;ter  of  llio  l)usincss  houses,  added  to  what  has  been  written,  and 
much  more  tha*.  might,  bcwitliout  exaggeration,  all  combine  to  make 
Fariliault  an  attractive.  l)caiitiriil  place — whether  for  a  few  days'  or  weeks' 
Hojourn.  or  :is  a  pciiii.'incnt  iibiiiing  place  for  one's  self  and  family. 


FARIBAULT  AND  VICINITY. 


29 


FARIBAULT    AS    A    BUSINESS    POINT. 

As  it  is  not  within  the  design  of  this  pamphlet  to  give  a  statistical 
statement  of  the  business  of  Faribault,  its  beautiful  surroundings  and 
educational  facilities  have  been  given  great  prominence,  N-et  its  advan- 
tages as  a  business  center  ought  not  to  pass  unnoticed.  Indeed,  the  combi- 
nation of  superior  manufacturing  and  commercial  facilities  with  its 
attractions  as  a  place  of  residence  or  sojourn  constitute  its  strong  claim. 
A  brief  allusion  to  the  former,  in  more  detail  than  has  been  given,  is 
therefore  appropriate. 

Faribault  is  the  most  important  station  on  the  Iowa  &  Minnesota  Di- 
vision of  the  C.  M.  &   St.  P.  Railwa}'.     It  has  connection,  also,  in   all 


lIMM'l'IliS 


ARLINGTON   HOUSE. 


directions,  by  the  Cannon  Valley  Division  of  the  M.  &  St.  L.  Railroad, 
which  is  operated  by  the  Rock  Island  Company,  thus  giving  it  the  ad- 


30  FARIBAULT  AND  VICINITY. 

vantage  of  competing  routes.  No  town  in  the  Nortliwest  is  in  a  healthier- 
financial  condition.  Many  of  the  best  business  men  have  shown  their 
faith  in  its  growth  and  prosperit}'  by  remaining  here  almost  from  the  be- 
ginning. They  own  their  business  houses,  and  do  business  on  their  own 
capital.  All  the  necessary  public  buildings  have  been  erected,  and  there 
is  no  heavy  bonded  indebtedness.  There  is  no  burdensome  taxation, 
either  present  or  prospective.  Its  banks,  its  general  mercantile  business 
and  manufacturing  and  milling  interests,  are  all  in  good  financial  condi- 
tion. The  Brunswick  Hotel,  one  of  the  handsomest  and  most  comfort- 
able famil}'  hotels  to  be  found  an^-where,  the  Arlington  and  the  Allen 
House,  afford  ample  accommodation  to  either  ti'ansient  or  permanent 
guests. 

The  manufacturing  enterprises  which  have  been  established  have  gen- 
erally succeeded,  and  have  made  monej^  for  their  proprietors.  There 
has  never  been  a  disastrous  failure  of  any  legitimate  business.  There  is 
abundant  room  and  encouragement  for  other  enterprises  that  will  both 
benefit  the  town  and  will  well  repay  the  wise  investment  of  capital  and 
labor.  Some  of  the  most  valuable  water  power  in  the  place  awaits  im- 
provement. Besides  having  a  good  fall,  it  depends  for  a  constant  flow 
on  a  river  that  drains  a  large  number  of  the  lakes  in  the  vicinit3\  The 
State  has  made  a  land  grant  for  the  purpose  of  raising  the  outlets  of  these 
lakes,  and  so  making  them  reservoirs  of  water,  which  may  be  stored  in 
them  till  it  is  needed  by  the  mills  below  in  time  of  drouth.  This  land 
has  been  sold,  and  the  proceeds  to  the  amount  of  $30,000  are  in  bank, 
awaiting  expenditure  by  the  commissioners.  There  are  seven  good  water 
powers  in  the  city  or  its  immediate  vicinit}',  several  of  which  will  be  ben- 
efited by  this  improvement.  An  abundance  of  poplar  in  the  adjacent 
forests  invites  the  establishment  of  a  paper  factor}'.  Linseed  oil  and 
other  works  might  be  started  and  carried  on  with  profit,  the  surrounding 
country  not  only  being  perfectly  adapted  to  the  supply  of  an  abundance 
of  th(;  raw  nuitcrial.  liiit  Ihe  railroad  facilities  being  such  as  to  make  it  a 
good  point  for  the  dislribution  of  manufactured  articles  of  agricultural 
maciiinery,  which  ought  to  be  made  at  home,  instead  of  paying,  as  now, 
large  profits  to  manufacturers  and  laborers  in  other  States. 


■'''■'If'll' 

i; 


FARIBAULT  AND  VICINITY.  33 

As  the  chief  interest  of  the  State  has,  down  to  the  present  time,  or 
nearly,  been  that  of  wheat  production,  the  manufacture  of  flour  and  pur- 
chase and  shipping  of  wheat  enters  largely  into  the  prominent  industries. 
The  aggregate  amount  of  wheat  marketed  here  in  1883  was  800,000  bush- 
els, which,  it  is  tliought,  exceeds  that  of  an}^  other  market  in  the  State 
with  the  exception  of  Minneapolis.  Eight  flouring  mills,  with  a  capacity 
of  1,200  barrels  of  flour  per  day,  and  two  capacious  elevators,  create  a 
brisk  competition,  always  securing  to  the  producer  the  highest  market  price. 
The  cit}-  draws  a  large  trade  in  pork,  principally  from  the  wooded  coun- 
try extending  for  fort}'  miles  to  the  west,  among  whose  groves  and  forests 
many  of  the  finest  farms  in  the  county  have  been  opened.  It  possesses 
a  large  number  of  fine  water  powers,  which,  supplied  by  the  numerous 
lakes  through  which  the  Cannon  River  pursues  its  course,  are  seldom  in 
want  of  a  sufficient  supply.  Many  of  these,  indeed,  most  of  them,  are 
already  improved,  but  vacant  powers  in  the  city  and  vicinity  may  still  be 
had.  The  Cannon  River,  rising  in  one  of  the  numerous  lakes  twenty 
miles  west  of  the  city,  and  pursuing  its  course  through  the  city  eastward- 
ly  to  the  Mississippi,  about  forty  miles  to  the  east,  is  estimated  to  fur- 
nish a  water  power  in  ever^^  two  miles  of  its  course,  and  stretching  along 
its  banks  the  entire  distance  from  Faribault  to  the  Mississippi  is  a  wheat 
field,  which  in  the  season  of  the  great  yield  (1877)  produced  one-sixth  of 
the  entire  wheat  crop  of  the  State,  and  was  estimated  by  the  Commis- 
sioner of  Agriculture  to  produce  the  largest  jield  of  any  area  of  similar 
extent  in  the  world. 

The  manufacture  and  export  of  furniture  in  the  rough  is  a  prominent 
branch  of  industry,  two  large  furniture  manufacturing  establishments 
furnishing  a  read}'  market  for  the  varieties  of  hardwood  timber  with  which 
the  neighboring  forests  abound,  and  large  quantities  of  logs  have,  dur- 
ing the  present  winter,  been  purchased  at  the  saw  mills  connected  with 
these  factories. 

The  woolen  factory  of  C.  11.  Klemer  manufactures  superior  cloths  and 
blankets,  which  find  a  ready  market  in  the  surrounding  country  and  in 
towns  and  villages  in  the  vicnity,  along  the  lines  of  the  railroads  which 
intersect  at  this  point. 


34 


FARIBAULT  AMD  VICINITY. 


RESIDENCE   OF   A.    L.    PULL. 


The  Faribault  Foundiy  aud  Windmill  Coiupany  manufacture  an  ex- 
cellent windmill,  for  which,  having  the  exclusive  patent,  the  demand  ex- 
ceeds the  supply.  Faribault  wagons  and  carriages,  noted  for  the  excellence 
of  their  workmanship,  are  the  product  of  several  flourishing  establish- 
ments, and  are  shipped  to  many  of  the  towns  and   cities  of  the   State. 

Rice  County,  of  which  Faribault  is  the  capital,  was  one  of  the  earliest 
settled  counties  in  the  State.  Its  lands  are  under  a  iiigh  state  of  cultiva 
tion,  nor  have  its  farmers  committed  the  common  mistake  of  confining 
themselves  to  wheat.  More  than  half  of  the  county  having  been  originally 
dense  forest,  the  condition  was  unfavorable  to  the  devotion  of  large 
tracts  to  vvluNit  culture,  wiiich  has  l)een  the  bane  of  the  prairie  ftirmer,  but 
aflbrded  inducements  for  the  raising  of  hogs  and  other  domestic  animals, 
and  this  secttion  of  tiu!  county  was  early  distinguishod  for  its  diversified 
industry. 


FARIBAULT  AND  VICINITY. 


37 


Many  iine  stock  farms  exist  in  tlie  country  about  Furibault,  among 
which  may  be  mentioned  the  picturesque  situation  of  George  M.  Gilmore, 
Esq.,  to  whose  hospitality  verj-  man}-  strangers  who  have  visited  the  city 
in  the  past  few  years  can  testify.  Surve3'ing  his  herds  of  shorthorns,  his 
trout  ponds  and  fountains,  and  modern  and  commodious  farm  house  and 
outhouses,  the  visitor  is  likely  to  forget  that  he  is  in  a  new  country. 
The  farm  of  George  Robinson,  Esq.,  also  adjoining  the  city  limits,  merits 
special  mention. 

The  dairy  has  not  been  neglected.   The  finest  butter  and  cheese  whicli 


RESIDENCE  OF   T.   H.    LOYIIED. 


finds  its  way  to  the  markets  of  St.  Paul  and  Minneapolis  will  often,  on 
inquiry,  be  found  to  be  the  product  of  Rice  County  herds.  The  State 
Dairymen's  Association,  which  met  in  this  city  during  the  present  year, 
brought  out  a  display  of  dairy  products  seldom  surpassed  in  quality. 

Notwithstanding  the  fertility  of  the  soil  and  the  picturesque  beauty  of 
the  county  (for  it  is  a  county  diversified  with  hill  and  dale,  meadow  and 
upland,  forest,  river  and  lake),  farming  lands  in  the  vicinity  of  Faribault 
are  surprisingly  cheap,  being  from  §15  to  §40  per  acre,  while  a  few  of  the 
choicest  stock  farms,  supplied  with  fine  dwellings  and  capacious  barns, 
reach,  perhaps,  $50  or  S60. 


38 


FARIBAULT  AND  VICINITY 


Of  course  with  such  a  tributaiy  countr}'  trade  could  not  be  otliorwise 
than  brisk.  The  scene  of  bustle  and  activity'  usually  presented  l\v  the 
streets  of  Faribault  ver}-  greatl}'  exceeds  that  generally  observed  in  mucli 
larger  Eastern  towns.  The  block  of  substantial  buildings,  a  view  of  whicii 
is  given,  indicates  the  prosperity  which  has  justifled  them. 

The  plate  glass  fronts  of  the  drv  goods  stores  make  a  display  which 
places  our  cit}'  in  advance  of  most  of  its  sister  towns,  and  will  compare 
favorably  with  any  in  the  State,  however  large. 

Its  hardware  and  agricultui'al  implement  dealers,  of  whom  there  are 


'\m  n^rf^?'  j 


LIME  .STONE  (JUARllV, 


man}',  have  long  enjoyed  a  very  extensive  and  lucrative  trade,  and,  as  a 
consequence,  stocks  are  to  be  found  here  of  great  extent  and  value. 
Ncitiier  is  this  nor  the  grocery  trade  confined  entirely  to  retailing,  for, 
while  manufactures  and  retail  trade  are  the  principal  business,  yet  job- 
Ijing  in  these  branches  is  carried  on  by  several  houses  of  good  financial 
character  and  capital. 

Scat{!d  at  the  geographical  center  of  a  triangle,  having  its  apex  at 
the  junction  of  tlic  Mississippi  and  Minnesota  Rivers  at  Mendota,  in  the 
vicinity  of  St.  I'muI,  and  its  base  on  the  Iowa  line,  with  its  angles  at  a 
prolongation  of  the  Minnesota  River  from  its  great  bend  at  Mankato  and 
the  .^IiHsi.sHippi  River,  near  La  Crescent,  Faril)ault  has  a  climate  equall}' 


Ill  t  ^^ 


\1  ^ 


r 


FARIBAULT  AND  VICINITY.  41 

adapted  for  corn  and  wheat,  as  the  character  of  its  agriculture,  already 
mentioned,  perhaps  sufficiently  discloses. 

The  fine  limestone  quarries  already  alluded  to,  of  which  its  public 
buildings  are  constructed,  supply,  also,  the  Faribault  marble,  capable  of 
receiving  a  high  polish,  as  well  as  the  material  for  large  quantities 
of  cement  or  water  lime,  although  the  latter  has  not  3'et  been  applied  to 
use. 

The  Church  of  the  Immaculate  Conception  (Catholic),  the  Cathedral 
of  our  Merciful  Saviour  (Episcopal)  and  Plymouth  Church  (Congrega- 
tional) are  good  specimens  of  church  architecture,  the  chancel  of  the 
Cathedral  being  said  to  be,  with  its  stained  glass  windows  and  vaulted 
arches,  the  finest  in  the  countr}'.  To  the  list  should  be  added  the  elegant 
Memorial  Chapel  already  referred  to,  with  its  imported  furniture  and  fix- 
tures, its  font  of  Italian  marble  and  its  stained  glass,  the  finest  in  the 
West.  No  expense  has  been  spared  to  make  it  the  architectural  gem  that 
it  is.  Notwithstanding  the  private  educatioual  histitutions  already-  men- 
tioned, the  public  schools  have  not,  as  might  be  feared,  been  permitted  to 
languish,  but  supply,  from  the  primary  to  the  high  school,  excellent  edu- 
cational privileges  to  more  than  a  thousand  pupils.  A  spacious  central 
school  building,  supplemented  by  ward  schoolhouses,  furnishes  fair, 
although,  at  present,  somewhat  inadequate  accommodations  for  the  rap- 
idly increasing  number  of  pupils. 

Perhaps  in  nothing  may  Faribault  more  justly  claim  superiority  than 
in  her  hotels.  The  Brunswick,  the  Arlington  and  the  Allen  Houses  are 
all  first-class  establishments  in  fact  as  well  as  in  name,  while  very  many 
cheaper  houses  are  well  conducted  and  extensively  patronized.  The 
Brunswick  is  supplied  with  steam,  gas,  hot  and  cold  water,  and  all 
modern  conveniences  ;  its  spacious  balconies  afford  a  pleasing  lounge  for 
the  tourist  or  pleasure-seeker,  and  it  is  elegantl}'  furnished  throughout 
with  everything  fresh  and  new,  having  been  completed  during  the  past 
year,  and  is  regarded  as  a  model  of  hotel  architecture. 

The  city  is  lighted  b}-  gas,  supplied,  as  is  the  water,  by  a  private  com- 
pany. The  fact  that  private  companies  can  be  induced  to  inaugurate  and 
conduct  such  enterprises  without  municipal  aid  indicates  the  prosperity 


42 


FARIBAULT  AND  VICINITY. 


■which  would  alone  justify  such  investments  in  a  city  of  the  size  of  Fari- 
bault. 

The  city  has  been  peculiarly  fortunate  in  the  source  of  its  water  sup- 
ply. Most  of  the  lai'ger  towns  and  cities  in  which  water-works  have 
been  erected  are  dependent  upon  lakes  or  rivers,  which,  being  exposed  to 
the  sun,  abound  in  unhealthy  vegetable  organisms,  and  are  contaminated 
by  surface  drainage,  and  the  introduction  of  a  host  of  substances  tending 


RKSIDENCE  OF   REV     JAMES   DOP.BIN. 


U)  impair  their  liealthfuhiess.  The  Faribault  Water-works  Company 
ventured  upon  the  experiment  of  sinking  a  large  well  in  the  level  plateau 
forming  the  western  outskirt  of  the;  city.  It  proved  eminently  successful, 
as  at  the  depth  of  twelve  feet  a  stratum  of  coarse  gravel  was  struck, 
overlying  white  sand  rock.  A  strong  and  constant  current  of  pure  cold 
water  was  found  rushing  through  this  gravel  bed,  which  constitutes  a 


iM 


._-itj 


■^: 


1  ''i    iS^M'^''    .4 


J 


FARIBAULT  AND  VICINITY 


46 


natural  filter,  with  the  force  and  volume  of  a  siiljterranean  river.  The 
average  depth  of  water  in  the  well  is  twelve  feet,  and  the  tests  made  by 
the  operation  of  the  powerful  steam  pump  show  that  the  supply  is  practi- 
cally gnfficient  for  the  utmost  possible  needs  of  the  city,  as  the  flow  of 
the  current  into  the  well  is  estimated  at  2,000,000  gallons  a  day.  The 
water  is  forced  through  underground  mains  to  a  large  reservoir  situated 
on  the  heights  east  of  the  river  and  beyond  the  public  institutions,  at  an 
elevation  of  219  feet  above  the  level  of  Main  street  in  the  city.  The 
reservoir  has  a  capacit}-  of  one  and  a  quarter  million  of  gallons.  The 
water  is  supplied  from  it  to  all  parts  of  the  city,  reaching  the  upper  sto- 
ries of  the  most  elevated  buildings,  and  affording  most  thorough  protec- 
tion in  case  of  fire. 

Two  national  banks,  three  breweries,  two  newspapers,  representing  the 


RESIDENCE  OF  II.  W.  PRATT. 


46  FAIUBAULT  AND  VICINITY. 

two  pi'iucipal  political  parties,  and  possessing  excellent  job  olflces,  one 
operated  b}'  steam,  and  an  opera  house,  may  be  mentioned  in  passing  as 
among  the  existing  institutions. 

A  view  of  one  of  the  residence  streets  will  be  noticed,  which  will  give 
an  idea  of  the  dense  shade  in  which  some  of  them  are  embowered.  The 
close  vicinity  of  the  forest  favored  and  stimulated  the  taste  of  the  citi- 
zens in  this  direction,  until  the  long  avenues  of  trees  which  extend  along 
the  streets  form  one  of  its  many  attractions.  In  addition  to  these  the 
public  square,  situated  verj'  nearly'  in  the  center  of  the  city,  is  thickly 
planted  with  trees  and  supplied  with  an  elegant  fountain,  the  water  for 
which  is  furnished  gratuitously  to  the  city  b}'  the  water  works  compan}'. 

Of  the  man}'  fine  residences,  lack  of  space  has  prevented  the  selection 
of  but  a  few  specimens,  not  the  best  or  the  poorest,  but  an  average  of 
the  many  which  crown  the  hillsides  into  which  the  site  of  the  city  is 
broken. 

The  post  office  usually  is  a  fair  index  of  the  prosperity  of  a  town. 
During  the  last  decade  the  gross  receipts  have  doubled.  There  are  two 
first  class  offices  in  the  State,  St.  Paul  and  Minneapolis  ;  and  of  the  second 
class,  Faribault  stands  well  up  in  the  list.  The  money  order  business 
amounts  to  $80,000  per  year. 

THE    ABORIGINAL    INHABITANTS. 

,\llusion  has  been  made  to  the  Wapekutis  or  Leaf  Shooters,  whose 
great  council  chamber,  being  a  huge  bark  wigwam  or  tepee,  called  in  the 
Indian  dialect  tepee  tonka,  or  big  tepee,  was  located  on  the  shores  of 
Cannon  Lake,  at  or  near  the  point  shown  in  the  view  at  Linden  Park. 
The  original  name  of  this  lake  was  Tetonka  Tonah,  or  "  Lake  of  the  Vil- 
lage." As  has  been  said,  their  forest  habitations  gave  the  name  to  this 
Itand  of  Dakotas.  The  history  of  the  settlements  of  the  white  man,  and 
the  location  of  some  of  the  most  beautiful  and  thriving  cities  of  the  North- 
west, show  that  the  early  emigrants,  in  search  of  locations  of  scenic  beauty 
imd  Datura!  advantages,  found  llu-  best  guides  in  the  selection  of  the 
aboriginal  tribes.  The  residence  of  Paypay,  the  second  Chief  of  this 
band,  was  here,  where  he  lived  and  died,  enjoying,  both  among  his  own 


FARIBAULT  AND  VICINITY.  49 

people  and  their  white  brothers,  a  reputation  for  honesty,  temperance  and 
friendship  for  the  whites.  His  descendants  have  always  preserved  the 
same  character,  with,  perhaps,  one  exception.  In  the  early  years  of  the 
settlement  his  son,  Chaska,  was  the  fop  of  the  band,  and  might  often  have 
been  seen  perambulating  Main  street,  arrayed  in  all  the  splendors  of  war 
paint  and  feathers.  Capt.  John  C.  Whipple,  an  old  resident,  and  the 
heroic  artillerist  whose  volleys  drove  the  howling  fiends  from  the  walls  of 
the  beleaguered  fortress  of  Ridgeley  in  the  gloomy  days  of  the  Sioux 
massacre,  in  1862,  who  had  often  bestowed  food  upon  this  young  warrior, 
was  astonished  at  meeting  him  in  the  jungle,  near  the  ferrv  at  the  lower, 
agency,  still  clad  in  his  finery,  but  evidentl}'  meaning  business,  as  his  gun 
was  pointed  with  murderous  intent  at  the  head  of  his  quondam  friend. 
He  was  afterward  arrested,  tried  by  the  military  tribunal  organized  for 
the  purpose  of  trying  the  leaders  of  the  insurrection,  and  condemned  to 
death. 

But  in  striking  contrast  with  this  ungrateful  savage  was  the  life  of 
another  descendant  of  the  Chief  ,Taopi,  who  lived  and  died  here.  This 
Indian  rescued  300  prisoners,  women  and  children,  from  the  hands  of  his 
bloodthirsty  people,  and  delivered  them  in  safet}^  to  Gen.  Sibley.  His  fast 
friend  and  brother-in-law,  who,  crawling  through  miles  of  prairie  grass 
and  forest  underbrush,  dared  a  thousand  dangers  to  bear  the  message  to 
Gen.  Sibley,  which  resulted  in  the  happy  deliverance  of  the  captives, 
still  lives  among  us,  rejoicing  in  the  name  of  Wachampamaza,  a  brave  and 
good  man,  whose  name  should  "  fill  the  sounding  trump  of  fame." 
Other  members  of  his  family  still  reside  at  the  Indian  village,  located  in 
a  picturesque  ravine  just  outside  of  the  city  limits.  Although  still  ad- 
hering to  the  costumes  and  habits  of  their  tribe,  speaking  no  English  and 
retaining  the  rude  Dakota  dialect,  the}'  are  regular  attendants  at  church, 
honest,  industrious  and  self-supporting. 

The  traveler,  on  approaching  the  banks  of  the  Cannon  along  the 
Hastings  stage  road,  in  1855,  as  he  reached  the  summit  of  the  breezy 
heights  which  look  down  upon  the  present  city  from  the  east,  would  have 
witnessed  a  scene  of  marvelous  beauty,  enlivened  by  the  presence  of  sav- 
age life.     At  his  feet  flowed  the  Twin   Rivers,  sweeping  in  a  semicircle 


50 


FARIBAULT  AND  VICINITY. 


around  the  broad  plateau  on  which  the  city  now  stands,  reflecting  in  their 
bosom  the  dense  foliage  upon  their  banks,  and  forming  a  glowing  cres- 
cent of  sylvan  scener}- ;  along  the  line  of  the  present  Main  street,  upon 
the  sites  of  warehouses,  stores  and  hotels,  stretched  a  long  line  of  Indian 
tepees  or  wigwams,  while  before  them  hung  the  kettle  attended  by  the 
careful  squaws,  from  which  rose  the  savory  steam  from  the  Indian  soup 
of  dog ;  their  ponies,  attached  to  the  Sioux  carriage,  consisting  of  two 


RESIDENCE  OF  F.   A.   TIIEOrOLD. 

poles,  the  upper  ends  fastened  I)y  a  rope  to  the  pony,  the  others  trailing 
on  tiiii  ground,  were  feeding  along  the  level  prairie  ;  while  up  and  down 
the  banks  of  the  stream  dashed  the  naked  warriors  in  the  wheeling  mazes 
of  lacrosse,  tlie  Indian  ball  game  ;  and  on  the  far  western  verge  of  the 
IMctinc  shininicn-d  the  placid  waters  of  Tetonka  Tonali  and  Wells  Lakes. 
Several  years  after,  and  wlien  the  rising  town  had  readied  upward  of 


FARIBAULT  AND  VICINITY.  53 

2.500  iohabitants,  when  the  tide  of  emigration  was  flowing  into  these  ver- 
dant valleys,  and  '•  city  lots  were  staked  for  sale,  above  old  Indian 
graves,"  upon  or  near  the  site  of  the  present  Bethlehem  Academy  (a  view 
of  which  is  given),  upon  one  of  the  most  beautiful  eminences  in  the  present 
city,  an  Indian  Grave  Yard  long  remained,  the  bodies  of  the  dead  being 
raised  upon  scatfolding,  in  accordance  with  Indian  custom,  and  surround- 
ed with  food,  pottery  and  other  ofterings  with  which  the  relatives  of  the 
departed  brave  sought  to  smooth  his  way  to  the  happ}'  hunting  grounds. 
As  late  as  this  period,  upon  almost  the  exact  site  of  the  beautiful 
Memorial  Chapel,  a  party  of  Dakota  warriors  returning  from  a  successful 
raid  upon  their  hereditarj-  enemies,  the  Ojibways  of  the  North,  held  their 
scalp  dances  and  made  the  night  hideous  with  their  ringing  war  whoops  ; 
for  days  the  successful  warriors  paraded  the  streets  with  the  bloody 
scalps  of  the  slain,  probably  the  reeking  trophies  of  some  cowardly  am- 
buscade, bent  upon  hoops,  and  exultantly  exhibited  to  the  admiring  eyes 
of  the  Weuonas  of  the  tribe,  as  well  as  to  the  white  citizens  of  the  place. 
A  dramatic  incident,  intended  to  illustrate  the  eflects  of  Christianity  upon 
these  rude  children  of  the  forest,  took  place  a  few  3'ears  ago  in  the  Cathe- 
dral on  the  occasion  of  one  of  the  general  conventions  which  annually 
assemble  here.  A  Dakota  brave  had  become  converted  to  Christianity, 
and  entering  the  Divinit}-  School  as  a  student,  died  of  consumption,  that 
fell  disease  which  is  rapidly  decimating  the  native  red  men.  His  fu- 
neral was  appointed  to  take  place  during  the  session  of  the  convention.  At 
this  convention  there  happened  to  be  present  from  the  northern  parts  of 
the  diocese  a  half  dozen  young  Ojibway  clergymen,  also  converts  to 
Christianity,  under  the  devoted  missionary  eflforts  of  Bishop  Whipple  ; 
these  3"Oung  Ojibways  were  the  bearers  of  the  remains  of  the  dead  Sioux 
to  their  last  resting  place.  This,  happening  upon  the  spot  where  a  ' 
quarter  of  a  century  before  the  ancestors  of  the  deceased  had  paraded 
with  demoniac  glee  the  reeking  scalps  of  the  ancestors  of  the  bearers, 
afforded  a  text  for  a  thrilling  discourse  which  we  may  be  sure  was  not 
neglected.  As  the  funeral  cortege  assembled  in  the  chancel  of  the  Epis- 
copal Cathedral,  which,  with  its  groined  arches  and  stained  glass  windows, 
is  said  to  be  the  finest  and  most  spacious  chancel  in   the  country,  it  pre- 


54  FARIBAULT  AND  VICINITY. 

seuted,  ^Mth  these  appropriate  siuToundiugs  and  in  view  of  the  contrasts 
referred  to.  a  scene  peculiarly  impressive. 

A  sketch  of  the  character  of  this  would  not  be  complete  without  some 
allusion  to  the  lamented  founder  of  our  city,  the  late  Alexander  Faribault. 
The  traveler  whom  I  have  imagined  visiting  these  scenes  in  1855  would 
have  seen  the  Indian  village  diversified  by  a  single  frame  building,  the 
trading  post  of  Mr.  Faribault.  This  gentleman,  allied  by  marriage  with 
an  Indian  woman  of  this  band  of  the  Dakotas,  earl}-  cast  his  fortunes 
among  them,  and  was,  so  long  as  the  tribe  remained  here,  their  wise  and 
faithful  benefactor,  counselor  and  friend. 

His  was  the  type  of  a  character  which  the  wild,  free  life  of  the  forest 
prairie  is  so  well  fitted  to  produce.  Brave,  generous,  honorable,  honest,  free 
from  guile  himself  and  suspecting  none  of  others,  he  was  one  of  natures 
noblemen,  held  in  high  esteem  b}'  the  Indians,  b}'  all  the  brave  men  who 
with  him  had  been  the  pioneers  of  the  territory,  as  well  as  by  the  people 
who  formed  the  new  society  which  emigration  brought  with  it.  He  lived 
until  within  the  last  year,  and  saw  a  flourishing  city  grow  up  upon  the 
site  of  the  old  Indian  village.  His  mansion,  long  the  scene  of  his  harmless 
life  and  generous  hospitality,  has  become  tlie  north  wing  of  the  present 
institute  for  the  education  of  the  blind.  The  site  of  his  trading-post  is 
occupied  by  modern  warehouses,  whose  brick,  and  iron  and  plate  glass 
fronts  furnish  a  contrast  witli  his  old  trading-post  as  marked  as  that  ol 
the  new  civilization  with  the  old  barbarism.  As  he  was  the  connecting 
link  Ijctween  the  i)rcscnt  and  the  past,  his  wise  counsels  were  always 
feouglit  to  allay  jealousies  and  quiet  animosities  between  the  two  races. 
In  the  outbreak  of  18(12,  when  the  town  was  guarded  for  many  nights  by 
nilays  of  armed  minute  men  under  the  command  of  Gen.  Shields,  ol 
Mexican  war  renown,  then  a  resident  here,  and  whose  blood-bought  farm, 
as  lie  was  accustomed  to  call  it,  lies  just  outside  of  the  city  limits, 
Mr.  Faribault's  comisels  were  in  great  demand.  Espousing  the  cause 
of  the  whites,  although  many  of  his  Indian  relatives  were  with  the  hos- 
tiles,  he  was  in  the  expedition  wiiii-h  fell  into  the  ambuscade  at  Birch 
Cooley.  and  during  those  fearful  hours  when  the  little  detachment,  lying 
behind  the  liodies  of  their  dead  horses,  gallantly  maintained  the  desperate 


FARIBAULT  AND  VICINITY, 


57 


Struggle  against  myriads  of  hidden  foes,  wliile  they  listened  with  bated 
breath  for  the  bugles  of  the  relief  party  which  finall\-  rescued  the  sur- 
vivors from  a  fate  worse  than  death,  he  bore  himself  with  that  uncom- 
plaining courage  and  fortitude  which  always  characterized  the  man.  The 
heroic  defense  which  himself  and  his  associates  made  at  Birch  Cooley,  it 
is  said,  saved  the  cit}-  of  Faribault  from  attack,  as  the  band  which  were 


KESIDEXCE  OF  GORDON   E.  COLE. 


on  their  wa}'  to  devastate  the  scene  of  their  earl}'  homes  were  drawn 
aside  from  their  purpose  by  tlie  detachment  encamped  at  Birch  Cooley, 
and  its  gallant  defense  detained  them  so  long  that  their  ultimate  purpose 
was  abandoned.  Mr.  Faribault's  portrait  hangs  in  the  council  room  of 
the  city,  and  his  memory  will  be  cherished  by  those  who  linew  him  and 
their  descendants  as  long  as  the  flourishing  city  which  he  founded  and 
to  which  he  save  its  name  shall  continue. 


58  FARIBAULT  AND  VICINITY. 

NOTEWORTHY    INCIDENTS    OF    THE    CITY    AND    COUNTY. 

The  famous  raid  of  the  Younger  brothers'  band  was  made  at  North- 
field  in  this  county,  when  they  received  the  first  checli  in  a  hitlierto  suc- 
cessful career,  but  two  (supposed  to  be  the  James  brothers)  out  of  the 
band  of  eight  escaping,  and  one  of  these  severely  wounded.  The  sur- 
vivors were  long  imprisoned  in  the  jail  at  Faribault,  and  at  last  tried  and 
sent  to  the  state  prison  for  life.  A  view  of  the  court  house  where  the 
trial  took  place  is  shown.  An  armed  volunteer  company  was  organized 
by  the  Sheriff  to  protect  the  prisoners  against  Ivnching  and  prevent 
raids  of  their  friends  for  their  rescue.  A  citv  policeman  was  shot  and 
killed  by  the  patrol  on  guard,  while  attempting  to  approach  the  jail  in 
the  night. 

The  scene  of  Eggleston's  "  M3-steries  of  Metropolisville ""  is  located 
in  Faribault  and  vicinity.  The  beautiful  lake  upon  which  the  sad  acci- 
dent occurred  which  constitutes  the  climax  of  the  story,  is  about  five 
miles  distant,  the  drive  to  it  being  a  very  romantic  one.  The  incident 
related  by  the  author,  of  the  capsizing  of  a  sail-boat  and  the  drowning  of 
'•little  Katie."'  is  no  fiction,  but  one  of  the  sad  reminiscences  of  our  his- 
tory. M.  Perritaut,  of  the  novel,  is  the  Mr.  Faribault,  to  whose  history 
brief  reference  has  been  made,  and  the  other  characters  are  mostly  drawn 
from  well-known  personages  in  the  early  history  of  the  place. 

Rice  County  is  the  pioneer  county  in  the  manufacture  of  sugar  from 
amber  cane.  The  works  of  Seth  II.  Kenney.  at  Morristown,  are  still  in 
successful  operation,  producing  an  excellent  quality  of  pure  syrup.  The 
refinery  at  Faribault  was  the  first  completely  equipped  manufactory  for 
tlic  |)n)dnctioii  of  sugar  from  the  sorghum  i)lant  established  in  the 
state,  or  it  is  believed  the  northwest.  A  superior  article  of  granulated 
sugar  was  produced  from  it,  Ijut  operations  have  been  suspended,  as  it 
was  not  a  linancial  success.  The  refinery,  however,  still  remains,  and  it 
is  l)cticved  tliat  wIi.mi  tlic  ciiltmc  ol"  :iinlicr  cane  shall  have  become  more 
fully  developed,  work  will  be  resumed  with  success.  The  first  middlings 
purifier  ever  used  in  the  country,  and  the  pioneer  machine  of  the  great 
improvements  that  have  revolutionized  the  milling  industry  of  the  North- 


FARIBAULT  AND  VICINITY.  f.l 

west  and  given  to  the  product  of  Minnesota  hard  spring  whciit  its  pre- 
eminence, was  built  in  Faribault,  and  first  operated  in  one  of  our  locul 
mills. 

STATISTICS    OF    THE    COUNTY. 

To  go  a  little  into  statistics  :  in  the  report  of  the  tenth  census  it 
appears  that,  in  capital  employed  in  manufacturing,  Rice  County  stands 
very  nearly  at  the  head  of  the  counties  of  the  State.  Hennepin  and 
Ramsey,  with  the  large  cities  of  St.  Paul  and  Minneapolis,  are,  of  course- 
largely  in  the  lead,  as  is  also  Stillwater,  the  seat  of  the  State's  Prison  and 
the  great  manufactories  of  the  Northwestern  Car  Co.,  and  tlie  Sey- 
mour, Sabin  &  Co.'s  works.  After  these  come  the  great  counties  of 
Goodhue  and  Winona,  both  nearl}-  twice  the  geographical  area  of  Rice, 
and  Rice  stands  next,  having  $975,000  Invested  in  manufacturing  as 
against  $1,105,000  for  Goodhue,  and  $1,204,951  for  Winona. 

In  horses  and  neat  cattle  she  preserves  about  the  same  ratio  to  the 
agricultural  counties  that  she  does  to  the  manufacturing  ones,  only  the 
large  counties  of  Winona,  Olmstead,  Mower,  Goodhue,  Fillmore  and  Blue 
Earth  being  in  advance  of  her,  her  aggregate  amounting  to  21,155. 

A  glance  at  the  map  of  Minnesota,  showing  the  twenty-six  townships 
of  Goodhue,  the  twenty-five  of  Fillmore,  twentj'-two  of  Blue  Earth  and 
eighteen  of  Olmstead,  and  the  fourteen  of  Rice — and  those  more  than 
one-half  originally  dense  forests — will  indicate  the  significance  of  this 
comparison,  and  place  her  at  the  head  of  the  list,  if  her  geographical  area 
is  considered. 

The  same  allowance  for  her  smaller  area  will  place  her  very  nearly  at 
the  head  in  wheat  production.  In  this  she  stands  tenth  in  the  list  of 
counties,  producing,  in  1880,  905,514  bushels,  as  against  1,216,872  for 
Winona,  1,461,074  for  Wabasha,  1,135,704  for  Stearns,  etc.,  all  the  coun- 
ties which  exceed  her  being  ver}'  much  larger. 

In  the  appraised  value  of  her  farm  lands  she  aggregates  $6,001,613, 
and  stands  ninth  on  the  list.  Hennepin,  with  seven  more  government 
townships,  each  a  mile  square,  is  estimated  at  only  $8,017,191,  and  this 
in  the  close  vicinity  to  its  capital  city,  the  great  wheat  manufacturing 
center  at  Minneapolis. 


62  FARIBAULT  AND  VICINITY. 

When  it  is  remembered  that,  notwithstanding  these  comparisons,  the 
prices  at  which  Rice  County  lands  can  be  bought  are  not  higher  but  lower 
than  others,  if  anything,  it  seems  folly  to  seek  those  portions  of  the  West 
where  inflated  values  and  speculative  prices  under  the  influence  of  a 
boom  attract  emigrants  to  settle  upon  wild  lands,  and  town  sites  but 
recentl}'  platted  which  can  oul}'  promise  in  return  for  fabulous  prices  for 
lots  that  a  half  a  century  hence  the}'  may  have  half  the  population  that 
Faribault  now  has.  and  b}-  the  artificial  cultivation  of  poplars,  box  elders, 
Cottonwood  and  other  quick-growing  trees,  create  a  faint  imitation  of  the 
magnificent  forest  trees,  groves  and  woods  which  dot  the  county  of  Rice, 
while  her  beautiful  churches,  her  magnificent  school  edifices,  her  spark- 
ling lakes  and  rivers  they  can  never  hope  to  rival. 


The  views  in  this  little  book  are  not  fancy  sketches.  They  are  all 
made  from  photographs  of  the  buildings  or  scenerj'  to  be  represented. 
There  is  no  need  in  any  of  them  of  embellishment.  The  eflbrt  has  been 
made  to  present  to  the  reader  as  perfect  a  representation  as  the  skill  of 
the  artist  can  make  of  the  actual  scenes  as  they  exist.  And  yet  it  is  only 
just  to  say  that  there  is  a  beauty  and  diversity  of  scenery  in  and  about 
this  picturesquely  situated  town  that  cannot  be  reproduced  by  the  camera 
or  the  pencil.  The  object  has  lieen  to  keep  as  near  to  nature  as  possible,^ 
and  to  admit  of  no  exaguenition. 


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